From our base in the historic town of Ronda, we use a mixture of trails, tracks and roads to travel between some of the world-renowned white villages “pueblos blancos” of the area and explore the different landscapes of mountain and valley which surround Ronda itself. We ride through the two designated Natural Parks which sit on each side of Ronda, enjoying the sights and sounds of this celebrated region of natural beauty. We ride through unspoilt countryside, past olive groves and vineyards, through holm oak and cork forests and winding river valleys with spectacular views of dramatic limestone mountains and gorges, to give you a taste of truly rural Spanish life. Throughout the tour, time is taken to enjoy the surroundings and we ensure plenty of breaks for a tapas stop or two along the way.

Day 1

Arrival. Transfer to Ronda and your hotel. Bike set up ready for next morning’s start. Your hotel is located in the heart of Ronda, close to all the local sights and amenities. Inclusive dinner at your hotel.

Day 2

Ronda to Olvera; Via Verde to Coripe ( 42 km + 20 km; 700m ascent; 1180m descent) Today we ride through the rich agricultural land directly north of Ronda, passing olive groves and vineyards which produce some of the best wines of the region. During late summer we will see fields of sunflowers as far as the eye can see, creating a bright yellow carpet across huge expanses of these hillsides. From a hillside above Olvera, we look across to this impressive white village which has been a human settlement for more than two thousand years. We ride down to the village and spend some time exploring its narrow streets and ancient buildings, including the almost cathedral-sized church and the Arabic castle, perched on a high rocky outcrop. From Olvera we finish Our first day with an easy 20km ride along the Via Verde, a disused railway line. The route goes steadily downhill all the way, passing through tunnels, over viaducts and past a Griffon vulture colony, to end at the abandoned station at Coripe. Return to Ronda by minibus. Evening free to dine out at your choice of local Ronda venue.

Day 3

Ronda to Jimera via Atajate (50 km; 1230m ascent; 1560m descent) From Ronda, we head out on a mixture of road and off road, past ancient stone dolmens, to the village of Atajate. We climb to a mountain ridge with views of the Guadiaro river and the Genal valley, particularly beautiful in the autumn, as the chestnut trees which fill the valley become ready for harvest. After an exhilarating descent, we arrive at the small station village of Cortes Estacion and then ride a winding riverside path to the village of Jimera. After returning to Ronda to your hotel to freshen up, we visit the village of Arriate for an inclusive dinner at a top local restaurant

Day 4

Ronda to Puerto Banus on the Costa del Sol ( 34 km; 470m ascent; 1520m descent) Today we ride from the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park down through the mountains to the beach and marina at Puerto Banus. We begin with a ride up through the park, following a rugged trail alongside a small stream and then up through pine forests to a vantage point with views down to the Mediterranean Sea. From here, we enjoy a fabulous 27km off road descent to the coast, riding on twisting mountain tracks, passing remote farmsteads and the Embalse (Lake) de la Concepción, before we finish amongst the glamourous villas and golf clubs of the Costa del Sol. We spend the rest of the afternoon by the beach before returning to Ronda for dinner. Inclusive dinner at your hotel.

Day 5

Explore Ronda. Free to explore the town by yourself. Optional half day self-guided ride which takes you to local high spots for the best views of the gorge and town. Evening free.

Day 6

Grazalema to Benaojan ( 42 km; 1000m ascent; 1400m descent) After a short time spent exploring the winding streets of the bull-running, mountain top village of Grazalema, we ride across the Sierra de Las Vinas using road and off-road to the village of Villaluenga. We then pick our way through the mountains and cork forests on singletrack paths to the village of Montejaque. We climb on foot to a viewpoint on the site of a long-gone Moorish castle and relax in the village before riding up a steep cobbled zig-zag path out of the village. A beautiful mountain-top valley opens up before us, with views across to Ronda and then we ride down the mountain to the Guadiaro river. We visit the crystal clear waters of the Cueva del Gato (Cat Cave) and on to the village of Benaojan. From here there is an optional extension for more technically experienced riders, on undulating singletrack along the Guadiaro river to Jimera Estacion. We return to Benaojan to freshen up and enjoy an inclusive dinner at the renowned Molino del Santo Hotel

Day 7

Ronda circuit, via Setenil and the ruins of Acinipo (60 km; 1500m ascent; 1500m descent) For our final day’s riding, we begin by dropping down below Ronda’s gorge for views up to its famous bridge. We ride away from the town, climbing past vineyards and bodegas, then down into the village of Setenil de las Bodegas, famous for its cavehouses, set into the huge limestone rocks and still in use today as homes, cafes and shops. We climb by road and track out of the village and up to the ruins of Acinipo, also known as Old Ronda, a 2,000 year old city created for retired soldiers from the Roman legions. Only the remains of the amphitheatre are still intact but the views from the escarpment on which the town is set are stunning. Using mostly off-road tracks, we pass bodegas and olive groves, then descend into the village of Arriate before returning to Ronda via the old Roman bridge. We spend your final evening dinner in Ronda.

Hike + Bike is run by Wayne Pickering and Heather Cooper who live in the town of Ronda and have excellent knowledge of the off-road cycling and walking trails near Ronda and through the unspoilt Natural parks which surround it. They specialise in fully supported guided bike rides and walks and like nothing better than sharing their best routes with their guests. Minibus support throughout the tours means that every day’s riding experience is optimised. Wayne is a fully qualified British Cycling Mountain Bike leader so will ensure that your riding is always interesting, safe and, above all, great fun!

How to Reserve with Chemins de France ?

Reservations can be made directly on www.icietlanature.com with secure online payment.

Click on "RESERVE ",

Choose your dates, enter your identity, and follow the instructions. The payment is made with

your credit card number directly to the Agency Chemins de France’s Bank Account. Within 48h we will give you a confirmation invoice by e-mail.

Level: 2 Moderate level mountain biking which uses a combination of country paths, tracks and trails, together with small sections of country roads. Requires some off-road mountain biking experience. Some hill climbing and descending involved, but not at a highly technical level, and we tend to use the roads as a way to ease the uphill climbs. Rides average 50km with approx 1000m ascent per day.